Multi-sailing waits on BC Ferries as travellers turn Canada Day into 4-day weekend

For the second day in a row, travellers heading from the Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island were met with multi-sailing waits at the Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay ferry terminals Saturday. (CTV News)

For the second day in a row, travellers heading from the Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island were met with multi-sailing waits at the Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay ferry terminals Saturday.

Shortly before 10 a.m., the next five sailings from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay were at full vehicle capacity, according to BC Ferries’ website.

The next sailing on the route with space available was the 3 p.m. departure, which had just eight per cent of its vehicle space available.

Trips to Nanaimo were somewhat less in demand, with a three-sailing wait on the Tsawwassen to Duke Point route and a two-sailing wait between Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay.

Similar waits were seen Friday afternoon, with many workers taking Monday off to create a four-day weekend with Canada Day falling on a Tuesday.

Some employers have even opted to give workers a paid day off on Monday rather than force them to take vacation time or work a single day between the weekend and the holiday.

• Read more: ‘A no-brainer’: Some bosses happily giving staff Monday off along with Canada Day

As it does for all long weekends, BC Ferries advises travellers to book sailings in advance to guarantee their spot on their preferred vessel.

Those with flexible travel schedules should consider booking off-peak trips in the early morning or late evening hours, and travelling as a foot passenger is also recommended for those looking to avoid multi-sailing waits.

The ferry service says Thursday, Friday and Saturday were expected to be the busiest days for travel from the Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island this weekend, while Monday and Tuesday are expected to be the busiest days in the opposite direction.

With files from The Canadian Press